The Opus 30 Mission

Thursday, July 27, 2017

My phone rang at 5:51 PM. The caller ID read "Garden City, NY". It was Amy, Robert Moore's girlfriend, who asked if I'd like to speak to Robert. Of course I said yes.

Robert was calling from Upstate Correctional Facility, obviously. His voice was energized as he greeted me. He went on to thank me for the work on his behalf and told me several times how much he appreciates my advocating on his behalf. He also told me that he and Amy are spreading word of the GoGetFunding page we've set up in order to raise the $3000 necessary for our attorney to be retained and take on Robert's case in earnest. We are seeking an appeal of Robert's 2014 conviction and want to have his 18 year prison sentence vacated.

This was the first phone call I've ever received from prison. In all the years of working on Shane Watson's behalf, Shane and I have never spoken by phone, only in actual visits.

Phone service companies benefit nicely from the hyper-incarceration which exists in the US. According to prisonphonejustice.org:

Prison phone contracts are based on a "commission" model, where the phone service provider pays a commission (kickback) to the contracting government agency, such as a state prison system or county jail. These kickbacks inflate the costs of prison and jail phone calls, which in the vast majority of cases are paid not by prisoners but by their family members. NY State prisons do not take a "kickback", to their credit. Here are current prices for a 15-minute prison call in NY State:

Friday, July 21, 2017

Shane Watson continues to wait expectantly for a positive decision from the Federal Court about his case. The best result, of course, would be for the Court to vacate Shane's conviction and set a release date. Thanks to the many supporters of Shane Watson through the years we have arrived at this point, after a long road, the longest road being that traveled by Shane himself.

I never want to overlook the generosity and passionate dedication to Shane's case as demonstrated by Doug Walters. Doug currently resides in Chicago with his wife Leonore, who is experiencing debilitating physical issues at this time. Doug did the legwork for the investigation into Shane's case, and did it voluntarily, completely unpaid. This involved trips to the Bronx, interviewing people connected to the case, interviewing (or at least trying to) detectives that "worked" the case initially, visits to Shane in prison, and more. We also are very grateful to our attorney Robert Boyle of NYC, as well as the donated assistance of Rebecca Freedman of The Exoneration Initiative.

At this writing, Shane is in his 24th year of incarceration.

Robert Moore, who is serving an 18 year sentence at Upstate Correctional Facility (wrongfully) is maintaining a positive outlook, under the circumstances. Mr. Moore was convicted of assault and attempted murder in 2015, as a result of being violently attacked while stopped at a BP gas station in Long Island.

The Opus 30 Mission has taken up Mr. Moore's case, details of which can be found on our GoGetFunding page. We are raising funds ($3000) in order for Mr. Moore to retain the services of Robert Boyle, our attorney, for an appeal. I urge you to read Robert's story, and share it.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Mr. Robert K. Moore is 49 years old and currently incarcerated at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, NY. On January 19, 2014, Mr. Moore was arrested in Wyandanch, NY, a hamlet of Babylon, NY in Long Island. He was subsequently tried and convicted of Attempted Murder 2 and Assault 1 in the Suffolk County Criminal Court. His release date is set for April of 2029.

On the evening of January 19, 2014, Robert Moore and his girlfriend were returning to their home in Dix Hills, NY after attending a party. Mr. Moore stopped at a gas station on "Straight Path", the main drag in Wyandanch. Straight Path was a familiar to Robert as an area where crimes occurred regularly. While stopped at the gas station, Mr. Moore began to open the trunk of his car in order to retrieve his girlfriend's pocket book. Suddenly, an individual later identified as Solomon Myailtha ("Africa") came from behind a parked white van. Mr. Myailtha removed a three-foot length of fence post from the van. The fence post had black electrical tape wrapped around the handle. While Mr. Moore's back was turned, Myailtha struck Mr. Moore on the back of his head with the steel pipe. Mr. Moore fought back. The police were called to the scene, and Mr. Moore was arrested, charged with Assault in the 3rd degree, shortly upgraded to Assault 2. Mr. Moore was held in the Suffolk County Jail until his arraignment, due to bail being set at $1,000,000. The entire incident was captured on video tape. Robert Moore sat in Riverhead County Jail for 16 months awaiting trial.

The trial judge, William Condon, offered Robert a sentence of three years if Robert would plead guilty to charges of Attempted Murder 2 and Assault 1 (defined as an assault with an intention to kill). Believing in his innocence stemming from simply defending himself against a violent attack, Robert rejected this offer, and asked for a trial. Represented by Suffolk County Legal Aid, Robert was convicted and sentenced to 18 years.

A NOTE FROM ROBERT K. MOORE:

My name is Robert Moore. I am 49 years old. I grew up in Suffolk County on Long Island, in Wyandanch, NY, until my parents moved to North Babylon, NY, where I enrolled in Deer Park School System, graduating high school in 1986. My family owned and operated Moore's Taxi Service since 1968. After graduation, I worked in the electrical field. In 2010 I attended Career Institute of Health & Technology where I became certified in Residential Electrics. I started my own light construction business. I have 6 children, 3 step-children and 4 grandchildren, one of which is starting kindergarten in the fall. I am so proud and would love to be there to see them grow, since they are not babies for very long. I love cooking and baking, and I love to travel.

If anyone reading this still believes in justice (not the justice system), and believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity at justice, I am asking for their support. I am seeking to raise funds in order to hire Mr. Robert Boyle as my attorney.

A NOTE FROM WILL DUCHON:
As many followers of Shane Watson's case know, Mr. Robert Boyle has been Shane's attorney throughout our efforts to exonerate Shane, and is willing to take on Robert Moore's defense in his attempt to receive a new trial or an appeal. This case is new to me, and I will continue to share details of the case, but after reviewing the trial transcripts and police records, Mr. Boyle feels that this is a miscarriage of justice, as do I. The Opus 30 Mission is seeking $3000 in order to retain Mr. Boyle. I will be setting up a GoFundMe page for Robert Moore which will be linked to this blog. Stay tuned.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Today, May 20, 2017, is day number 8,603 for
Shane. 8,603 days in prison for a crime he did not commit. To suggest one
perspective, since the day Shane was convicted (October 31, 1993) four
presidents have occupied The White House.

In his letter to me dated May 16, Shane
described a typical day at Otisville, the medium-security "facility"
where Shane currently "resides".

"Those cell days (at the maximum-security prisons) are far
behind me. I'm in a medium-security prison where they try to weed the guys down
to some normalcy. We are not in cells, we are in dorms with cubes, 50 men to a
dorm. No more real privacy, but no more bars. We get to use a refrigerator and
freezer, stoves and an oven and we have more movement. My so-called job is
really a program at the commissary, Monday-Thursday, 8AM-2 PM. The pay is $7.25
per week.

We can use the library or law library a couple of days each week.
(To do this) you have to be placed on a call-out, so you have to sign up in
advance.

We have services Monday night, which is Prayer Night. Bible Study
on Wednesdays and Thursday nights. Friday night is for movies, and Saturday
night is for (church) services in Spanish. We also have (church) services on
Sunday mornings as well as the first two Sunday nights each month. I attend the
Monday, and Sunday services and the movies on Friday nights. I'm usually worn
out after the work at the commissary, for real.

I have to walk a mile coming and going to the Mess Hall if I want
to eat (unbelievable). I only go if they have something I can eat, which isn't
always.

I try to avoid any confrontation and stay positive and do my
pull-ups and wash up in the morning when the crowd isn't there (smile). In this
environment when one guy gets a cold or bug it passes around fast if you're not
careful. As you know, I am covered in the blood (hallelujah).

I wait, always looking forward to that call (to be released from
prison), which isn't easy, but praise God for that blessed assurance! Amen!

Thursday, March 16, 2017

In 1990, 16 year-old Jeffrey Deskovic was
convicted of the rape and murder of Angela Correa, a 15-year old student at
Peekskill High School in NY.After seven
hours of police interrogation (during which no parent or attorney was present)
and the persuasive power of fear and fabricated evidence, Deskovic confessed to
the crime despite his innocence. He was sentenced to 15 years to life, and spent 16 years in
prison. The Innocence Project finally put an end to Deskovic’s saga, proving
through DNA testing that Deskovic was not the perpetrator. The DNA evidence
eventually led to the conviction of another man.

Using funds from a settlement, Deskovic admirably
set up The Deskovic Foundation for Justice, based in the Bronx, NY. The Foundation
provides counsel to wrongfully convicted persons, and also advocates for
legislative changes to help prevent future wrongful convictions.

In 2012, we appealed to The Deskovic Foundation
for assistance in Shane Watson’s case of wrongful conviction. I spoke to
someone in the office about the case and was told that their office would
follow up on it.

On February 22 of this year, Shane received a
letter from The Deskovic Foundation. The letter claimed that the organization
was “swamped with requests for help while also having a limited staff.” The
letter thanked Shane for his patience, and asked for several documents
pertaining to the case, such as the appellate brief, police reports, and a questionnaire.
The letter concluded with an underlined
sentence in bold type: we have not
yet decided to accept your case.

The work of The Deskovic Foundation for Justice is
admirable, as is the work of The Innocence Project, The Exoneration Initiative
(which has provided paralegal assistance to us) and other similar organizations
working on behalf of the wrongfully convicted. What is startling is that this
letter from The Deskovic Foundation took five years to be generated. If we were
to proceed with applying for assistance from The Deskovic Foundation, it would
easily be another two years before any substantial action on Shane’s behalf
would take place. That’s two more years in prison, added onto the twenty-three
Shane has already spent behind bars.

Fortunately, our case is now in the hands of the
Federal Court and we are not in need of further legal assistance. When Shane
sent a copy of the Deskovic Foundation letter to me his words were “Praise God
for where we’re at!” Indeed.

About Me

Blog Archive

Welcome!

My name is Will Duchon. I live in Stratford, CT. This is the story of The Opus 30 Mission.

MR. SHANE WATSON

In 2003 I encountered Mr. Shane Watson, who is currently serving a 25 year to life sentence for second-degree murder. After careful review of the case transcripts, police reports, trial transcripts and other documentation, it became clear to me that Shane is not guilty of this crime. His case is an example of flawed "eyewitness" testimony, an incredibly flimsy prosecution, and essentially a travesty of justice. Shane is 50 years old, and has been in prison since 1993.

I followed up my suspicions about the case with Dr. Jennifer Dysart, currently a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. Her SUMMARY confirmed my suspicions.

Along with some dedicated friends from Pleasantville Presbyterian Church in Pleasantville, NY, Monroe Congregational Church in Monroe, CT, the fine attorney Robert Boyle of New York City, and our dedicated investigator Doug Walters of Chicago, I am seeking to have Shane's conviction overturned so that ultimately, he will be free to enjoy his life.

In April of 2016 I learned of the case of Mr. Robert K. Moore. I was invited to speak to a men's group about Shane Watson's case at Westchester Jewish Community Services in Yonkers, NY. The group is led by Mr. Mark Levine, LCSW. A week or so following the meeting, Mr. Levine emailed me about Mr. Robert Moore, who is currently incarcerated at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, NY.

This blog is simply a way to share Shane's and Robert's story as well as new and current information regarding their cases. I encourage you to read the posts that describe the details of his case. It is also an opportunity to learn about how flawed the criminal justice system is.